LauncherOne is a 2 stage rocket that launches from under the wing of a modified Boeing 747-400 aircraft.The Launcher One rocket is a two stage rocket with a single NewtonThree engine as the first stage, and a single NewtonFour engine for a second stage.

What Is Cosmic Girl?

Image Credit: Virgin Orbit

Cosmic Girl is Virgin Orbit’s first modified Boeing 747-400 that is used to launch their Launcher One rocket. To date all launches have been over the Pacific Ocean using Cosmic Girl as the initial ascension stage. Cosmic Girl is currently prepared for flight at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California, but there are plans to begin launching from Spaceport Cornwall by the end of 2022. Cosmic Girl is Virgin Orbit’s only Modified Boeing 747-400, but with another 2 planes on order, we can expect a higher volume of launches in the future.

What's Does The Cabin And Flight Deck Look Like?

Cabin // Image Credit: Virgin Orbit

Cockpit // Image Credit: Virgin Orbit

First Stage

With its single Newton Three engine producing 327 kN of thrust (in vacuum) and burning RP-1 and LOX for the first 3 minutes of flight, which Virgin Orbit uses a D+ count for - where D stands for Drop.

Following release from the aircraft the first stage’s NewtonThree engine uses a mixture of Rocket Propellant-1 (RP-1) and Liquid Oxygen (LOx) to continue its ascent to its desired trajectory. The first stage, pump-fed, engine is capable of producing 327 kN (73,500lb) of thrust which can burn for approximately 180 seconds. 

Prior to ignition of the first stage, 2 Propellant Setting Thrusters (PSTs) ignite to force the propellants to the bottom of the tank, where the valves are, to ensure the engine doesn’t take in any air. This is rare to see in the first stage of rockets, since most take off vertically from the ground. However this is very common practice on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stages.

After the first stage completes its 3 minute burn, it then separates from the second stage which continues on to orbit.

Second Stage

Image Credit: Virgin Orbit

The second stage of LauncherOne consists of a single Newton Four engine burning RP-1 and LOX like the first stage. With a diameter of 1.5m and thrust of 22.2 kN, the single Newton 4 engine burns for approximately 6 minutes to get the payload(s) to their target orbit.

Following release from the aircraft the first stage’s NewtonThree engine uses a mixture of Rocket Propellant-1 (RP-1) and Liquid Oxygen (LOx) to continue its ascent to its desired trajectory. The first stage, pump-fed, engine is capable of producing 327 kN (73,500lb) of thrust which can burn for approximately 180 seconds. 

Prior to ignition of the first stage, 2 Propellant Setting Thrusters (PSTs) ignite to force the propellants to the bottom of the tank, where the valves are, to ensure the engine doesn’t take in any air. This is rare to see in the first stage of rockets, since most take off vertically from the ground. However this is very common practice on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stages.

Why Air Launch?

Image Credit: Virgin Orbit

Being able to launch while already in the air has a number of advantages. The first and foremost advantage being less restraints on weather conditions. A common issue that affects rockets that launch from the ground, is weather conditions. Weather has to be in a very set perimeter of conditions to be able to launch. Whereas With an air launch system, planes, such as Cosmic Girl, can fly in much harsher conditions. This enables the launch provider to fly to areas with calmer weather allowing Launches to go ahead relatively unaffected in both time scale and planned launch locations.

Other advantages include less rocket fuel required due to already being at an increased altitude and velocity. Even though there will be fuel required for the plane, it is much more cost effective this way.

There is one larger disadvantage to an air launch system and that's the payload capacity. Virgin Orbit’s modified 747-400 can only carry a payload of 500kg for a mission to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 300kg for a mission to Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) once the weight of the fuel required for the first and second stage is loaded onto the rocket.